Holder invited to testify on state-level marijuana legalization

A medical marijuana user, smokes at a public consumption of marijuana on December 6, 2012 in Seattle. In November, Washington state jumped into history becoming the first state along with Colorado to legalize recreational marijuana use. UPI/Jim Bryant | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has been invited to testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about state-level laws that legalize marijuana.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called on Holder and Deputy Attorney General James Cole to testify before the committee and clarify the federal government's stance on state-level laws that legalize the drug, The Hill reported Monday. Leahy said such state laws "should be respected."

Leahy said the Sept. 10 hearing will focus on conflicts between state and federal laws, Roll Call reported Monday.

Last week, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement President Barack Obama hasn't yet changed his view on the issue of legalized marijuana use.

"It is important, especially at a time of budget constraints, to determine whether it is the best use of federal resources to prosecute the personal or medicinal use of marijuana in states that have made such consumption legal," Leahy said in a statement. "I believe that these state laws should be respected. At a minimum, there should be guidance about enforcement from the federal government."